Greg Norman spotted at Masters despite not being officially invited

Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf and a very familiar figure in the world of golf, was spotted following his players down the first fairway of the Augusta National Golf Club during the final day of practice ahead the Masters Tournament. His presence, however, was not due to an official invitation, but rather a ticket he used to enter alongside LIV executives.

Norman’s return to the Masters, a place he hasn’t set foot since his stint as an analyst for SiriusXM Radio in 2021, has created quite a buzz. Major champions typically receive non-competitive invitations, but Norman, affectionately known as “The Shark,” was not extended one last year. The reason? Masters chairman Fred Ridley wanted to keep the focus on the tournament.

“I’m here because we have 13 players who have won 10 Masters between them,” Norman said to The Washington Post. “So I’m just here to support them and do the best I can to show them.”

This isn’t the first time Greg Norman has found himself in the middle of controversy. Just last year, he was not welcome at Augusta National due to his divisive role in professional golf’s civil war.

“Funnily enough, I wasn’t invited,” Norman said in 2023. “As a major winner, I’ve always been, but they just sent me a ground pass last year and nothing, zilch, this time. I’m disappointed because it’s so petty, but of course I’m still going to watch.”

Despite the snub, Norman remains undeterred. He was spotted at an Italian pop-up restaurant on Tuesday night this week, and on Wednesday he walked around the tournament grounds chatting with patrons and players, including Australia’s Min Woo Lee. His appearance comes as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s financial backer, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, continue negotiations on a possible long-term peace deal.

Invited or not, Greg Norman‘s presence at the Masters is ultimately a testament to his enduring love for the game of golf and his unwavering support for its players. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will undoubtedly be on the course, but you can’t help but keep an eye out for “The Shark” as he continues to make waves off it.

What is Greg Norman’s history at the Masters?

Greg Norman played in 23 editions of the Masters Tournament during his professional golf career, 22 of them in a row. Although he never won the green jacket, he came close several times. In fact, “The Shark” finished runner-up three times (1986, 1987 and 1996) and had six other top-10 finishes.

The closest he came to the title was in 1987, when he and Seve Ballesteros lost to Larry Mize in a playoff. A year earlier, he lost to Jack Nicklaus by one stroke (Norman finished tied for second with Tom Kite). In 1996, he lost to Nick Faldo by five shots.

Greg Norman has won The Open Championship twice (1986, 1993). His career major resume includes 91 majors played, 71 cuts made, 48 top 25s, 30 top 10s and 20 top 5s, including his two wins and eight runner-up finishes.

Norman has 88 professional titles, including 20 on the PGA Tour and 14 on the European Tour. He was the world’s top-ranked golfer for 331 weeks and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.